It’s that time of year again. Everyone is putting up Christmas decorations, drinking eggnog, and wrapping presents. What better way to get in the Christmas mood than to listen to music? Every year, the Chippewa Valley Youth Symphony performs a holiday concert for the community. “It’s a fun one for the general public … because it has popular and typical Christmassy music that people would like to hear,” said Executive Director Jen Severin. This year the 68 student musicians, grades 7-12, will perform a total of six songs. The first half of the show will be comprised of a mix of music from Broadway to classical to pop-rock. The selections include The Sound of Music, Sibelius’s Finlandia, and a Beatles medley. In the second half, the musicians will perform popular holiday selections, such as Winter Wonderland and others, said director and conductor Peter Haberman. “I think there’s something for everyone in the audience and something for everyone in the group,” he said. The concert will conclude with an opportunity for audience involvement via a sing-a-long. The musicians will perform carols while their families and community-members can sing and contribute to the music, said Severin. Haberman adds that the concert will display the remarkable talent of the youth musicians that will hopefully “wow” the audience. The goal is to get everyone in the spirit of Christmas. “I want [the audience] to enjoy themselves with the holiday part of the concert,” he said, “and just have a nice relaxing afternoon.”

Chippewa Valley Youth Symphony Winter Concert • Dec. 10 • Gantner Concert Hall, Haas Fine Arts, UWEC campus • 2pm • cost TBA • all ages • cvyouthsymphony.org